WASHING MILKEN THINGS.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2580, 14 April 1877, Page 4

WASHING MILKEN THINGS.

(PBOM THE QUEEN.) Although washing silk dresses may be economical, it is not altogether satisfactory, and in but few instances can washed silks be made to look at all equal "to the new material. Tho following directions are likely to produce the best attainable results:—Unpick the dress, and brush off all lose, external dirt. Mix well together Jib of honey, the white of one egg, 3oz. of soft soap, one wineglass of gin, and one" pint of hot water. Lay the pieces of silk separately on a deal board or table, and using a small brush., which must be neither too hard nor too Soft, scrub them on both sides with the above mixture. Have ready two pails of cold water, and as soon as each breadth of silk has been well scrubbed, dip it into both pails successively, and shake it about so that as much as possible the mixture . shall be rinsed out. Then hang it dripping on a horse in the shade, and on no account wring it. When almost dry iron it on the wrong side with a hot iron, placing paper between. Another mixture is the following : —One pint of ox gall,, lib of , white curd soap, loz of honey, £oz of white sugar, a little Venetian turpentine, and 2ozs of ammonia. The two first ingredients are stirred together over the fire, "the others being subsequently added. Tho mixture is made into balls, and so applied. Some simple checlc or striped silks of thin make can be washed in a lather made with hot water and curd soap allowed to become nearly cold before it is ■used." Only the worst parts must be . rubbed; the rest should be pressed and 'dabbed in the water in the same manner as lace; then rinsed in lukewarm water, pinned out to dry, and ironed with muslin or paper between the iron and the silk. Another mode is to brush the silk with a soapy lather, finishing it in the same manner as described in the first recipe given in this chapter.. Ox gall mixed in the lather finds favor for coloured silks ; but, although it restores the color at first, the brightness soon disappears, and the . silk assumes a dark dull appearance. We * "would rather recommend gall soap made as follows:—|lb. of soft soap, £lb. of Mar- - seilies soap, lib. of ox gall, and threequarters of a pint of turpentine; stir carefully until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed and dissolved; when cold, cut into pieces. The brightness of tint in silks may sometimes be restored by adding to the rinsing water sufficient pure white vinegar to impart a v sour taste to it; but we ghould advise our readers to try.the effect on a- small piece of? material. Paraffin will be found valuable for sponging and cleaning silks, both white .and coloured", as alsobenzine collas v and Farcy's cleansing fluid, applied according to the directions sold-with them. The silk must.be subsequently exposed to a current of, air, in order to take away the unpleasant odour. Travis's colloid, used as directed upon'the tins, cleans silk well. The most satisfactory method of cleaning brocaded silks at home is to uae stale breadcrumbs, or a mixture of breadcrumbs and :powdered blue ; but it is far better to send these, as well as all rich makes of silk, to the professional cleaner. If made limp in cleaning, a sponge dipped in isinglass and water, should be applied to the back of.the. material to stiffen it. Black silks can be cleaned in a variety of ways —by sponging carefully with any kind of spirit, such as whisky, spirits of wine, gin (unsweetened), or with, cold tea or coffee (well strained), or. with ammonia and •water (either liquid or lump ammonia may " be used ; if. the latter, a piece the size of a walnut, dissolved in a small basin of hot water); also\ with water in which ivy leaves (in the proportion of a handful to a quart) have, been boiled ; or with potato ■water, made by grating 12 potatoes into a quart of water, allowing it to stand. If .the silk be. very dirty it should be scrubbed,,with the potato water.-after the manner described in the first recipe in this chapter. Black silk that has become shiny can be renovated by being sponged ■with either of the following preparations: —1. Tie one ounce of black tea in a piece of muslin, and boil it with a tablespoonful of common gum 15 minutes ; 2. Boil two pairs of old black kid gloves in two pint 3 *fof water until they are nearly dissolved, then strain the liquid. Black silk that has become very brownand very shabby may be boiled in a decoction of a small quantity of logwood in water. In all cases the silk must be ironed with paper or muslin over it, as the iron must never come in direct contact with the fabric; if stiffness is required, damp it previously with gumTvater, in which gin or brandy is mixed. These receipts apply equally well to black and coloured ribbons^ Tussore, foulard, or any soft kind of white or colored silk, may be washed with bran instead of soap. A lukewarm lather of- yellow soap, without soda or washing powder, will also serve for washing tussore, which must be rinsed, shaken out, and hung up to dry ; but, while still damp, it should be rolled in a cloth and ironed on the wrong side. It must on noaccount be sprinkled, as .every spot shows. White and colored pocket handkerchiefs, can be washed and ironed in the same way, but f when snuff has been used they must be previously soaked for an hour in cold water ; then washed in a cool lather, rinsed in cold water, and ironed with a cool iron. These handkerchiefs are generally of fast colors, but if there is any doubt of their standing the washing, a handful of common salt should be thrown into the soaking water. Scarttes and neckties of crape or soft washing silk should be washed quickly in a lather of whi.te curd soap, previously prepared, and allowed to get cold. The moisture must then be pressed out of them as much as possible, and they must be well pinned out without rinsing or wringing. Crape must not be ironed, but silk is the better for it,, provided the iron be cool and paper laid between. For white silk or crape of a bad .color, add a very little blue to the lather, and, if stiffening is required, a second weaker water, in which some gum is mixed, must be used. If the. colours are delicate, and likely to run, they must be dipped in salt and water before washing.For white silk sfockings proceed as follows: —Prepare the lather by boiling in soft water white soap cut into small pieces. When quite dissolved, let the lather get cold, and wash the stockings, turned inside out, in it. Repeat the operation in a second lather; and, if a pinker tinge is desired, add" to the lather a little pink coloring, sold for the purpose. Do not rinse them,, but .press out the moisture, stretching them evenly, and pull them into shape, turning them on the right side. Hang them out in the air. to

dry, or roll them in a cloth. Do not iron them, but while still damp straighten them well out on a cloth, aud rub tliem with a roll of flannel. Open worked stockings should be tacked on the cloth before rubbing, so that the pattern may come out clearly. '

To. clean velvet, sponge it over with benzine collas, and apply a weak solution of gum ai-abic to the back; it must then be sewn in a frame (an ordinary embroidery frame will do for a small piece), and ironed octjthe wrong side, having a damp qloth placed between. If any portion of the nap does not stand up well, it can be raised by holding it over steam.